The Aidan Project

#68 - Notes on Pascal’s Wager

In this edition of The Aidan
Project, Aidan examines Pascal’s Wager. Blaise Pascal (1623–62) was
a talented French mathematician, physicist, inventor and writer,
but he is most famous for his theological work. Pascal’s famous
wager argues that it is rational to believe in God, because the
benefits of this belief being justified when you die are vast:
Entry into heaven, avoidance of hell. By contrast, said Pascal,
even if Goddoes not
exist, the costs of
living as if Goddoes
existare trivial. To
not believe in God, therefore, is irrational. Whilst it also means
you will never know that God does not exist if He, in fact, does
not exist, you risk fiery damnation if Hedoes exist. Your life is a bet, believed Pascal, and, on
the balance of probability, there is only one way to place it - on
belief. In a mathematical sense,if we believe in God, and He exists, the
rewards are infinite, and if we are wrong, the losses are hardly
worth worrying about.If we
do not believe in God, but we are wrong, the punishments are
potentially infinite.Aidan
examines the merits of Pascal’s Wager, and explores its common
criticisms. Place your bets.

About the Podcast

Aidan Coughlan's inquisitive podcast examines current events, history and culture. What is happening in the world and how do we make sense of it? Aidan, assisted by expert guests from around the globe, is on a quest to find out. Why not join him?